Overview

"For the past ten years, Rolf Potts has taken his keen travel sensibility into the far reaches of five continents for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Salon.com, and The New York Times Magazine. This book documents his boldest, funniest, and most revealing journeys - from getting stranded without water in the Libyan Desert, to crashing the set of a Leonardo DiCaprio movie in Thailand, to learning the secrets of Tantric sex in a dubious Indian ashram." Marco Polo Didn't Go There is more than just an entertaining journey into

More About
This Book

Overview

"For the past ten years, Rolf Potts has taken his keen travel sensibility into the far reaches of five continents for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Salon.com, and The New York Times Magazine. This book documents his boldest, funniest, and most revealing journeys - from getting stranded without water in the Libyan Desert, to crashing the set of a Leonardo DiCaprio movie in Thailand, to learning the secrets of Tantric sex in a dubious Indian ashram." Marco Polo Didn't Go There is more than just an entertaining journey into fascinating corners of the world. It is a unique window into travel writing, with each chapter containing a "commentary track" - endnotes that reveal the ragged edges behind the experience and creation of each tale. Offbeat and insightful, this book is an engrossing read for students of travel writing as well as armchair wanderers.

What People Are Saying

From the Publisher

"Potts is one of the best travel writers to emerge in the last decade.
Intrepid and thoughtful, he's a Paul Theroux for the backpacker generation, and Marco Polo reflects this."
—San Francisco Chronicle

"This hilarious collection of stories provokes because Potts asks the serious question of how to travel in a discovered world. ...If you aspire to be a travel writer, read this book."
—The Guardian (U.K.)

"Potts isn't so much a travel reporter as a story teller. ...He's more about getting under the skin of a place — detailing a cast of characters that would either enthrall or scare the hell out of most travelers,
depending on where they come down on the trust-paranoia continuum."
—Orange County Register

"Potts, Internet raconteur and travel-advice sage, is the kind of guy you wish the pubs had more of: well traveled, generous with funny stories,
eager to listen to yours. You feel envious that you weren't with him in Cairo to share the convivial squalor of a backpacker hotel, or at an Indian ashram to study Tantric sex, or even in the Libyan Desert, in the dark, out of water and lost. And he's able to draw insights from all that without draining the fun out of the conversation — difficult to carry off in a pub or a book."
—The Washington Post

"Armchair travelers will get an enormous kick out of this thoroughly entertaining book."
—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Potts is one of the best travel writers to emerge in the last decade.
Intrepid and thoughtful, he's a Paul Theroux for the backpacker
generation, and Marco Polo reflects this."
—San Francisco Chronicle

"This hilarious collection of stories provokes because Potts asks the
serious question of how to travel in a discovered world. ...If you aspire
to be a travel writer, read this book."
—The Guardian (U.K.)

"Potts isn't so much a travel reporter as a story teller. ...He's more
about getting under the skin of a place — detailing a cast of characters
that would either enthrall or scare the hell out of most travelers,
depending on where they come down on the trust-paranoia continuum."
—Orange County Register

"Potts, Internet raconteur and travel-advice sage, is the kind of guy you
wish the pubs had more of: well traveled, generous with funny stories,
eager to listen to yours. You feel envious that you weren't with him in
Cairo to share the convivial squalor of a backpacker hotel, or at an
Indian ashram to study Tantric sex, or even in the Libyan Desert, in the
dark, out of water and lost. And he's able to draw insights from all that
without draining the fun out of the conversation — difficult to carry off
in a pub or a book."
—The Washington Post

"Armchair travelers will get an enormous kick out of this thoroughly
entertaining book."
—Booklist

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Travel writig 101

While Rolf Potts, one of the finest chroniclers of our time, tells us to be travelers not tourists his stories are testimonies to the discomfort-if not downright terror-this can bring. These journeys take us into the heart of the backpacking culture fit for someone about 25. I enjoyed hitch hiking with him in Lithuania making friends with a band of reckless students, to a bone chilling night in a Himalayan village offset with an amusing encounter with some "blue movie" junkies. Rolf's self-deprecating humor, expertly crafted, well-informed narrative keep these encounters alive. He made me wish I had kept notes on my free-fall through Europe when my travels were filled with serendipitous and mystical happenings. Rather than live in regret, I will be grateful to have endnotes at the end of each story illuminating travel writing tricks that make Rolf's stories a treat. If you are a writer aspiring to spin gold from the straw of your own experiences, I suggest reading the tutorial at the end of the book before enjoying this award-winning collection highlighting the last ten years of Rolf's incredible life.
Adventure travel writer-Linda Ballou-Author - Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales www.LindaBallouAuthor.com

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